Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows books in order

As the author of the Shadow and Bone trilogy, Leigh Bardugo shot to fame when Netflix commissioned her books to become a TV series. But Shadow and Bone is far from her only work.

Bardugo is also the author of the Six of Crows books, which established her as a young adult author for the modern age. This article delves into the two books in this series from the author of the Grishaverse books, in addition to looking at an upcoming book that may close out the trilogy.

What is the Six of Crows series about?

After finding success with the Shadow and Bone books, which made her a bestselling author, Leigh Bardugo turned her attention to tales outside of stories relating to the Grisha.

Having said that, the books still have some links to the Grishaverse, being set after the events of the Shadow and Bone series.

Set in an international trade hub called Ketterdam, the series follows a criminal prodigy named Kaz Brekker. A veteran of a city in which you can have anything as long as you have the money, Brekker is presented with an opportunity that’s too good to pass up.

The heist of all heists could make him rich beyond his wildest imagining. But he needs a team with each member having a different skill set to do the job.

Brekker gathers Nina Zenik, Inej Ghafa, Wylan Van Eck, and Jesper Fahey. However, they need one more member, which sees them break Matthias Helvar out of a prison called Hellgate.

With the crew assembled, Brekker sets out for the impossible heist. Along the way, they get embroiled in a battle for the world itself. Will this cast of criminals save the planet from destruction, or will they be the cause of it?

The Six of Crows series veers away from the fairy tale nature of the Leigh Bardugo books that came before it, though there are still touches of her fantasy writing throughout. All told, the Crows duology allows Bardugo to explore new themes in her writing while offering welcoming familiarity to her readers.

The Six of Crows series in order

As a New York Times bestselling author and the creator of a popular Netflix series, Leigh Bardugo has an eye for creating great book series. Avoiding spoilers, these are the two Six of Crows books, with an additional upcoming book for fans of the storyline.

Six of Crows

Heist stories have been popular fodder for modern fiction for centuries, but Bardugo in Six of Crows combines a criminal caper with high fantasy with spectacular results.

Bringing together a convict, runaway, spy, thief, Heartrender, and sharpshooter, the story focuses as much on the relationships between its cast as it does the heist that brought them together.

Linked by a desire to become filthy rich, they begrudgingly work together. Unbeknownst to them, they’ll soon find themselves in a battle over the fate of the world.

They just have to survive each other first.

Crooked Kingdom

After pulling off (and surviving) the impossible heist, Brekker and his crew of outcasts divide the rewards. But rather than go their separate ways, they’re drawn into a battle that’s even more dangerous than the one they faced in the first book of the series.

This second book focuses on forces descending on the villainous hive of Ketterdam. The crew finds itself embroiled in the mystery of a drug called jurda parem and faces tests that strain their already tenuous loyalties to one another.

Unknown follow-up

In a 2018 Twitter post, Bardugo said that a third book in the Six of Crows series is a possibility. However, there’s been little word of that book since the tweet.

What we do know is that the Grisha trilogy, coupled with Bardugo’s other books, leaves the door open for further explorations of Kaz Brekker and crews’ stories. Perhaps a prequel or a collection of short stories could serve those hankering for more.

Find books by Leigh Bardugo on Speechify Audiobooks

Though you can find Leigh Bardugo’s work on Amazon, the best way to experience it is via audiobooks. That’s where Speechify Audiobooks can help.

Though the service does not yet contain the Six of Crows books, it hosts several other pieces of Bardugo’s work. These include Hell Bent, Ninth House, and The Lives of Saints. Speechify also has Demon in the Wood, a graphic novel set in the Grishaverse.

If you’ve explored everything there is to see in Bardugo’s other tales of thrones, fantasy, and heists, why not try her other books on Speechify? Sign up today, and you can try your first book for free.

FAQ

Should I read Six of Crows or Shadow and Bone first?

As they’re a different series of books, it doesn’t matter which you read first. Both tell different stories, with only minor links between them.

What is the Shadow and Bone trilogy?

The Shadow and Bone trilogy are Grishaverse books. They include Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising. The main character is a sun summoner named Alina Starkov.

Is Six of Crows a duology or trilogy?

The Six of Crows series is currently a duology, though Leigh Bardugo plans to turn it into a trilogy.

Who is the main character in Six of Crows?

A con man named Kaz Brekker is the main character of the young adult fantasy series Six of Crows.

What is the King of Scars duology about?

The King of Scars picks up in Ravka a year after the Six of Crows books. They follow a young king named Nikolai Lantsov as he tries to rebuild his kingdom while maintaining control of the magic inside him.

What are the books in the Kings of Scars series?

The two books in the series are King of Scars and Rule of Wolves.

What are other books by Leigh Bardugo?

Beyond the series mentioned in this article, Bardugo is also the author of Demon in the Wood, The Lives of Saints, The Severed Moon: A Year-Long Journal of Magic, and The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic. She’s also the author of Ninth House and Hell Bent, which feature Alex Stern.